ENCOURAGING HEALING IN HOSPITALS : AN INTEGRATIVE APPLICATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN

Abstract

This thesis is an exercise in evidence-based design for a long-term acute care facility proposed in Chicago, IL, USA. The design concentrates around the patient room floor, exploring industry changes with regard to single-patient room configurations & incorporating natural greenery and light. At the crossroads of an industry crisis and a culture revolution, healthcare facilities today are largely antiquated, technologically inadequate and altogether unable to support the required medical and healing activities. Regardless of politics, aging demographics and increasing health insurance subscribers will double the demand on the healthcare industry in the coming years. As focus shifts towards patient-centric care, concentrating on safety and quality of experience, the notion of the hospital's built environment shifts from specialized care towards a more holistic approach. We must now treat patients, not simply disease.